Director: Jody Dwyer Release Date: 6 November 2008 (Australia)
Dying Breed is a bit slow through the first half with not a whole lot happening but it makes up for that in the second half. I really enjoyed it.
After the death of her sister in Tasmania, Nina and her friends travel there to finish what her sister started. They are trying to find proof that the Tasmanian Tiger still exists. Instead, they find proof that cannibalism still exists.
Dying Breed is well acted and overall a pretty cool movie. Not a lot happens in the first half but the gorgeous scenery makes it entirely watchable. Once the action starts, it's bloody good fun. There are some really creepy characters....specifically the little girl and the old 'Pieman'. In my opinion, this one is definitely worth a watch.
I was pleasantly surprised by how good C.H.U.D was. I expected a bunch of '80's cheese but there was actually very little.
C.H.U.D., Contaminated Hazardous Urban Disposal, actually creates C.H.U.D., Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. There are many homeless people that live underground New York City. When hazardous waste is illegally dumped down there and then covered up, the radiation turns these people into grotesque creatures who have a taste for human flesh. The story is creepy. They did a good job of building up the tension in this movie. I thought the story was pretty original. The C.H.U.D. themselves don't look too bad for being made in the '80's. The eyes glow a bit too much, but in my opinion, this movie would be a prime candidate for a remake just to see how realistic and scary they could make the C.H.U.D.. The acting in this was really very good. I liked the characters, especially Daniel Stern's character who runs the soup kitchen. If you're in the mood for a horror movie that has a good story and good acting, with a decent amount of gore, then I suggest you check out C.H.U.D..
The PG-13 rating given to 1408 belies this film’s truly terrifying effects on its audience. Though it’s far less gory than its peers, it has frightening moments and a creepy mood throughout. John Cusack (IDENTITY) plays Mike Enslin, a gifted writer who has turned his talents to paranormal travel books. His stays in haunted hotels never shake him, but he’s intrigued by New York’s Dolphin Hotel. Room 1408 has been the site of dozens of deaths, and this is a selling point for the skeptic in Mike. Despite the warnings of the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson, BLACK SNAKE MOAN), Mike resolves to stay in the haunted room. No one has lasted more than an hour in 1408, and Mike has his work cut out for him.
My thoughts: This is a creepy movie. John Cusack did a great job portraying someone who is basically losing his mind to room 1408. And the scary part is that he has lucid moments but he can't really do anything to help himself. He can't leave! I love horror movies that have a lot of atmosphere and 1408 has lots of that! I read 1408 (the Stephen King short story this movie is based on ) right before going to see the movie so I could see how close the movie stuck to the story. Of course they had to add quite a bit seeing how the story was only about 30 pages or so. I think they did a great adaptation. Stephen King should be proud. There wasn't a whole lot of jump-out-of-your-seat scary moments but the sinister mood was pretty consistent throughout. Just the thought of being in a haunted room and not being able to get out is frightening enough without needing a ton of the startling frames that make you gasp in terror. Also I should mention that Cusack did an awesome job in this movie considering he was in most of the scenes and by himself! He was very convincing. Overall, it's an eerie movie that I will definitely be watching again. (Just not by myself at night, lol.)
What it's about: Based on the Hasbro toy line that initially captivated kids in the 1980s, director Michael Bay’s TRANSFORMERS finds two warring bands of shape-shifting alien robots renewing their intergalactic conflict on Earth. While the Decepticons, followers of the malevolent Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving), strive to take over the planet, the Autobots, led by the valiant Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen), are intent on protecting humanity. When young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) discovers that his new car is really the Autobot Bumblebee (voiced by Mark Ryan), it sets the stage for a massive giant-robot showdown.
A shining example of the Hollywood summer blockbuster at its best, TRANSFORMERS combines stunning CGI effects and thrilling action sequences with drama, humor, and a touch of romance. Featuring a large cast that includes Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, John Turturro, Anthony Anderson, and Rachael Taylor, the film is anchored by LaBeouf, who always displays an engaging Everyman charm, whether he’s running from colossal robots, interacting with his well-meaning parents (hilariously played by Kevin Dunn and Julie White), or pining for his gorgeous classmate (Megan Fox). While some TRANSFORMERS purists may be dismayed by certain aspects of this bold big-screen adaptation (Bumblebee is a Camaro instead of a Volkswagen), the movie balances its spectacle with an admirable amount of substance, giving it an appeal far beyond pre-teen boys and their nostalgic Autobot-loving elders.
My Thoughts: I was impressed with this movie. I never watched the cartoon that was so big in the 80's. I was more of a My Little Pony or Rainbow Bright kind of a gal. On that note, I didn't really have any expectations or preconceived notions about what the transformers should or would be like. Hell, I didn't even know that there were good or bad transformers. I thoroughly enjoyed watching these guys transform from cars, trucks and radios into gigantic robot-like creatures.
I love a movie that borrows a little out of pretty much all the major genres. This movie combines some romance, lots of action and comedy and does a wonderful job. The boy that plays Sam (Shia LaBeouf) was a joy to watch. I hope to see a lot more of him in the near future. His character was hilarious! There was lots of good acting in fact. I have no complaints at all about Transformers.
Ironhide: Why are we fighting to save the humans? They're a primitive, violent race. Optimus Prime: Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there's only one way to end this war. We must destroy the cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest. Ratchett: That's suicide. The cube is raw power. It could destroy you both. Optimus Prime: A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet. We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes. It's been an honor serving with you all. Autobots, ROLL OUT!
Rating: 8
